Interviews

1. Yoshitaro Amano, Forced to Return to Japan by Prisoner of War Exchange Ship (Japanese)

2. Yoshitaro Amano, who Attempted to Smuggle himself into South America after the War (Japanese)

3. Yoshitaro Amano who Liked History (Japanese)

4. Yoshitaro Amano’s Business in Japan (Japanese)

5. First Meeting with Yoshitaro Amano (Japanese)

6. Yoshitaro Amano’s Tuna Fishing Boat (Japanese)

7. Yoshitaro Amano, who was Fascinated by the Chancay Culture (Japanese)

8. An Opportunity to Learn more Japanese (Japanese)

9. A Lifestyle Using Both Japanese and Spanish (Japanese)

(b. 1929) President of Amano Museum

A Lifestyle Using Both Japanese and Spanish (Japanese)

(Japanese) My parents couldn't speak any Spanish at all, just enough to go to work and to employ people at work. Besides that, they only used Spanish when they went to the market to buy things. Plus, I didn’t go to a Japanese girl’s school - I graduated from a Japanese elementary school here, then I went into a Peruvian girl’s school. So, I don’t know which. Partway in both is probably the best place (laughs).

generations languages Nisei Peru

Date: April 18, 2007

Location: Lima, Peru

Interviewer: Ann Kaneko

Contributed by: Watase Media Arts Center, Japanese American National Museum

Interviewee Bio

Miyoko Amano (nee: Watanabe) is a Nikkei Nisei born in Lima, Peru. In 1954, she married Yoshitaro Amano, a businessman and a researcher of the Andes Civilization. Taking over the vision of her late husband, she is currently the President of Amano Museum—established from the Yoshitaro’s private collection of artifacts—renowned for its extensive research into the Cancay Culture. (October 2009)

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Little interaction with parents

(1926 - 2012) Scholar and professor of anthropology. Leader in the establishment of ethnic studies as an academic discipline

Lack of language skills

(b.1964) California-born business woman in Japan. A successor of her late grandmother, who started a beauty business in Japan.

Acculturation

(b.1964) California-born business woman in Japan. A successor of her late grandmother, who started a beauty business in Japan.

Japanese are more accustomed to foreigners

(b.1964) California-born business woman in Japan. A successor of her late grandmother, who started a beauty business in Japan.

Difficulties understanding different Japanese dialects

(b.1913) Kibei from California who served in the MIS with Merrill’s Marauders during WWII.

Teaching at the military language school during World War II

(b. 1924) Political scientist, educator, and administrator from Hawai`i

Learning English upon discovering that family could not return to Peru

(1930-2018) Nisei born in Peru. Taken to the United States during WWII.

Playing baseball along with American Nisei and Kibei

(1930-2018) Nisei born in Peru. Taken to the United States during WWII.

Her early life in Canada

(b.1912) Japanese Canadian Issei. Immigrated with husband to Canada in 1931

Japanese school

(b.1924) Japanese Canadian Nisei. Interpreter for British Army in Japan after WWII. Active in Japanese Canadian community

Learning Japanese at school and at home with family

(b.1951) Co-founder and managing director of San Jose Taiko.

Results of being more American than Japanese

(1924-2018) Researcher, Activist

Going to Japanese school

(1923-2011) Lawyer, MIS veteran, founder of Francis and Sarah Sogi Foundation

Volunteering to serve for the U.S. military in Japan

(1923-2011) Lawyer, MIS veteran, founder of Francis and Sarah Sogi Foundation

Feeling closer to Japan as a Japanese American

(1923-2011) Lawyer, MIS veteran, founder of Francis and Sarah Sogi Foundation

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A Lifestyle Using Both Japanese and Spanish (Japanese)

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